15 gorgeous Getting ready wedding photo must-haves

First up, to tell the complete story , there are some essential details you should have captured. here are a few of them

wedding photo must-haves – Details and Accessories

Here are some of the brides detail shots to focus on for wedding photo must-haves.

• The Dress: Hanging Shot: Capture the wedding dress hanging in a beautiful location, showcasing its details, or use this artistically and capture the stillness of the dress surrounded by the chaos of girls getting ready
• Close-Up: Focus on intricate details like lace, beading, or embroidery. These are often especially chosen by the bride.
• Shoes: Capture a close-up of the bride’s shoes, possibly styled with other accessories.
• Jewelry: Photograph the rings, earrings, necklaces, and other jewelry pieces.
• garter and bouquet: Take shots of the bridal bouquet on its own and with other details, the garter or close ups with the bride holding the bouquet, and having the garter put on.
• Invitation Suite: Include the wedding invitation, save-the-date card, and other stationery in a flat-lay shot.

For the guys

here are some of the details to focus on from the guys getting ready wedding photo must-haves

• suit hanging up ready to be worn
• tie or bowtie and pocket handkerchief
• shoes and funky socks, if there are any – its been a trend.
• cufflinks or watch
• picture of the buttonhole arrangement.

Here are some of the key moments to focus on when the bridal party is getting ready.

getting ready wedding photos must-haves

Bride and bridesmaids moments 

1. Hair and Make up – this is a great time to get some real makro details – focus in on eyes or lips and capture all the detail. An environmental shot is also great, amidst the chaos of brushes and eye shadow and gloss. And another artistic approach is to focus on reflections in the mirror .
2. Bridal party fun – cheers with a glass of champagne, matching robes, bridesmaids helping each other putting on dresses or shoes or jewellery, exchanging small gifts or opening thank you boxes.
3. Bride getting ready – Once the dress is in place there are some great shots you can get of this process – tying or zipping the back of the dress, fluffing the dress out around the bride, putting on the garter and shoes, putting on a veil, putting on jewellery and spraying perfume are a few of the classics.
4. Bridal portraits – these are definitely a must-have – get bridal portraits in full dress sitting and standing, by the window, silhouette, close up through or under the veil, reflection in the mirror, or a classic holding the bouquet shot are just a few bridal portrait ideas that come to mind.
5. group portrait of bride and bridesmaids together

Groom and Groomsmen moments

The groom should not be forgotten in your getting ready wedding photo must haves – here are a few key moments to capture

1. candid shots before getting into suits before the wedding
2. groomsmen helping each other – ties, cufflinks and waistcoats being put on, buttoned up or tied.
3. Groom getting ready – I always tell them to act like he doesn’t know how to dress himself – this works great and always gets a few laughs – key moments are putting on a waistcoat, doing up the tie or bowtie, cufflinks being put on, buttonhole being pinned on , shoes being put on.
4. Groom portraits – Another definite for wedding photo must-haves, and this is a great time to do it. Standing and sitting, looking at watch or looking off to the side , walking are all great classics for grooms portraits.
5. group portraits – once they are all dressed up its a great time to get a classic group portrait and something more fun such as sharing a cigar or drink, cheers moments , or pulling up their trousers to show off funky socks.

Emotion images are really powerful, whether its laughter or tears , these can really create some great images. here are some key emotional getting ready moments to look out for.

1. If there are letters sent between the bride and groom to open on the day, be sure to focus on them and get the emotions on both bride and grooms faces, and also focus on hands. If there are tears also try to get photos, but remember to be respectful of their space and also allow them the time to savour the moment.
2. Once the dress is on focus on bridesmaids reactions to how the bride looks all dressed up.
3. Putting on the veil or doing up the dress is often an emotional moment for mum – or just mum and daughter sharing a hug once the bride is all ready to go.
4. first looks – this is a highly emotional moment if the couple want it. It is normally between the bride and groom, although traditionally this is saved for the actual ceremony. But more and more couples are choosing to do this before the ceremony itself.
5. However you can also arrange first looks with the bridesmaids or parents seeing the bride for the first time. A father seeing her daughter in her wedding dress for the first time is always an amazing moment for me. and a definite wedding photo must-have.

Photographing first looks can be a little tricky, but with a bit of planning and knowing what you need to focus on this can produce really strong images like we said above. Here are some tips

1. Get whoever has seen the bride already to help you arrange this – they can communicate with dad or groom where they must stand.
2. find an area that will work well for a first look – preferably around a corner or somewhere where the bride can stay hidden and the cant really see each other until they both turn. But the main focus is dad or grooms reaction so if they simply need to have their back turned until the bride can get into position that is also ok.
3. Go through the plan with the bride – what the signal will be for her to come out – where she should stand, should she tap on the shoulder? etc.
4. it is a very short space of time so be prepared to capture the emotion on dad or the groom’s face.
5. Also be prepared for the brides reaction as this often results in joyful tears or a laugh.